“Lhasa; the spiritual heart of Tibet, the remote adobe of the Dalai Lama and a city of wonders; the area around Lhasa offers an excellent range of monasteries built for centuries”
Lhasa, the holy city of Tibet lies at the elevation of 3650m and the capital of Tibet. For all its modernization Lhasa remains a fantastic cultural hybrid, its streets bustling with a diverse mix of people, as the gateway of ‘real’ Tibet, out in the countryside, Lhasa deserves at least a week to see the sights, though. For those with a short time limit, we can offer ‘3-Day Glimpse of Lhasa Tour’ – 2nights 3days Shortest Lhasa Itinerary, on which you visit the most popular and important sights inside Lhasa.
‘3-Day Glimpse of Lhasa Tour’ highlights include multi-day and overnight tours with sightseeing of the Potala Palace (UNESCO World Heritage site); a residence of the Dalai Lama, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Bazaar (Buddhists Pilgrimage Circuit), the huge monastic institutions of Drepung and Sera lies on the edge of the town. If time permits, you can visit both Sera and Drepung or just one of them.
Moreover, if you would like to extend your multi-day trip from ‘3-Day Glimpse of Lhasa Tour’ – 2nights 3days Shortest Lhasa Itinerary, we can add on Ganden Monastery, Namtso Lake, Tsedang. For this, you will need to extend a couple of extra days in Tibet. Make us an inquiry, we can help you customize or personalize your itinerary.
Upon your arrival in Lhasa; you will be greeted by your Tibetan guide and escorted to the hotel. A complete day rest for acclimatization- you can also walk around at nearby places on your own.
You can reach to Lhasa either taking flight from Kathmandu (1 hour flight) or taking train/flight from Mainland China (Mostly from Beijing or Chengdu). Overnight at Hotel
AM: After having breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and start your day sightseeing tour in Lhasa; start from Potala Palace (the residence of the Dalai Lamas), Jokhang temple and Barkhor Bazaar (Buddhists Pilgrimage circuit). Potala Palace; Lhasa cardinal landmark, one of the great wonders of world architecture. Potala is structure of massive proportions, an awe-inspiring place to visit, lies above the town of Lhasa; quite and stately, tremendous in its grandeur, rich reds and warm gold, devoted rural pilgrims, turning prayer wheels, the flickering light of Yak-butter candles; you can anticipate your journey with full of mystery and curiousness. Jokhang Temple also known as Tibetan as the Tsuglhakhang, is the most revered religious structure in Tibet. Thick with the smell of Yak butter, echoing with the murmur of mantras and bustling with awed pilgrims, the Jokhang is an unrivalled Tibetan experience. Barkhor Bazaar is the first stop for most newcomers to Lhasa is the Jokhang in the heart of the Tibetan old town. Before venture into Jokhang; it’s worth taking a stroll around Barkhor Bazaar, a Buddhists pilgrimage circuit.
PM: Visit of monastic institution of Drepung and Sera monasteries (If time permits visit both of the monasteries or at least one)
Drepung Monastery; about 8 kilometers west of central Lhasa established in 1530 by second Dalai Lama, used to be of the world’s largest monastery since king of Tsang and the Mongols. Sera Monastery is about 5 kilometers north of central Lhasa; founded in 1419 by Shakya Yeshe, was one of the Lhasa’s two great Gelupga monasteries, second only to Drepung. This monastery is worth visiting in the late afternoon when debating dance is usually held in the monastery’s debating courtyard.
After you conclude your one full day sightseeing tour in Lhasa your guide escorts you to your hotel in Lhasa. Overnight at hotel
Meet the guide at the hotel who will escort you to the airport or train station for your next destination.
There are Four Major things you will need to know about getting into Tibet
1. Permit: You will need a Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) permit to be able to enter Tibet by plane, train or bus by land. For this you will need to go through a travel agent and HimalayanWindows is always at your service to make your plan successful at a very reasonable budget.
2. Traveling from Mainland China: Traveling Tibet via Mainland China, you will need issue Chinese Tourist Visa earlier to process the permit; while sending your passport copy to the agent, you must send your China visa copy.
3. Traveling from Kathmandu: Travel Tibet via Kathmandu, Nepal, Embassy of China in Kathmandu does not issue individual visa to any travelers going to Tibet. The Embassy issues Group Paper Visa only after receiving Invitation or Confirmation Letter from Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB). If you turned up with a Chinese visa already in your passport, it will be cancelled (Prefer traveling from Mainland China if you do not want to cancel your China visa in your passport). A group visa is separate sheet of paper with all the names and passport numbers of the group members. It is important to get your own individual group visa (a ‘group’ can as small as one person), as otherwise come the end of your tour in Lhasa, you will either have to exit China with your companion or split from the group visa with additional cost and hassle. Inform the travel agent about your plan after Lhasa while making a booking plan and allow at least 2-3 working days in Kathmandu for group visa procedure.
4. Gateways: You can enter Tibet either from Mainland China or Kathmandu by flight or land/road. Many visitors to Tibet will transit through Either Beijing/Chengdu or Kathmandu. Traveling from Mainland China, you can either take flight or train to Lhasa. Make sure that you are with your original permits before boarding on to Lhasa. The original permit is couriered by your travel agent at your address in China (Not at your home); it is important to send your exact address in China including phone number and room number of the hotel you stay.
Traveling in Tibet is not as difficult as you would think- at least once you have worked your way around the latest Tibet permit update and have acclimatized to the altitude. It is important to book a trip with a travel agent and the tour needs to be properly organized.
When to Go
Spring, early summer and late autumn are probably the best times to visit Tibet. March is politically sensitive month and every year in March, Tibet is remaining closed for years. April to May brings reliable weather in eastern Tibet including Mount Everest. From July through the end of September the monsoon starts to affect some parts of Tibet. Traveling western Tibet becomes slightly more difficult, the roads to the east are temporarily washed out and friendship highway (also called; Araniko highway) sometimes becomes impassable on the Nepal side or on the Kodari border itself. In 2017, organizing press meet by the Chinese authority, another border crossing (Kerung/Kyirong) has opened to the international travelers and can be used to enter Tibet. However, the road condition at Nepal side still yet to be improved.
Mount Kailash Mansarovar tour can be undertaken from April to October, although August, September and October are considered the best months. October is also best time to make a trip out to the east. Lhasa and its surroundings don’t get really cold until the end of November.
However, it’s worth trying to make your trip with one of the Tibet’s festivals. New Year (Losar) in January and February is an excellent time to be in Lhasa, Saga Dawa Festival (Full Moon) in April/May or Shoton Festival in August. Check Festivals in Tibet for more details to make your trip more fun.
The major aim of travelers is Lhasa itself, the spiritual heart of Tibet, resident of the Dalai Lamas and excellent range of monasteries and temples. People reach Lhasa by train or flight from Mainland China (Beijing, Chengdu) and by flight from Kathmandu. There is enough to see in and around Lhasa to occupy at least a week. Highlights include the Potala Palace (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Jokhang Temple, the Barkhor Pilgirmage circuit. The huge monastic institution of Drepung and Sera lie on the edge of town, and Ganden Monastery is a fantastic day trip away (50KM); you will need at least 4 to 5 days to explore these highlights.
There are plenty of excursions to be made from Lhasa. Day trips to stunning Namtso Lake (4719m); which offers glimpse of the nomad life of the north and gives a good look of Tibet in a short time. You can also add a day or two to visit Reting Monastery which avoid backtracking. If you add another couple of days, you can visit atmospheric Drigung Til Monastery and Tidrum Nunnery, both east of Lhasa.
The friendship highway between Lhasa to Kathmandu is one of the popular travel routes in Tibet. This route offers number of excellent detours, combine it with the train route into Tibet for an epic overland tour.
You can head straight from Lhasa to the coiling scorpion –lake of Yamdrok-Tso and take in the views from Samding Monastery before heading over the glacier-draped Karo-La pass to Gyantse. Gyantse town is well worth full day the Khumbum (literally 100,000 images) Chorten is a must see , Phalkhor, and there are several adventurous adventures in the nearby areas. A 90 KM drive from Gyantse to Shigatse with its impressive Tashilhunpo Monastery and Shalu Monastery is a worthwhile half –day trip from Shigatse, especially if you have an interest in Tibetan art.
The most popular excursion from the road is Rongbuk Monastery and Everest Base Camp. After stating a night at Tingri town you head to Kodari border crossing (Temporarily closed after 2015 Nepal Earthquake) or Kerung/Kyirong border crossing and drive further to Kathmandu via Rasuwagadi highway (150KM). You can allow at least 8 day traveling from Lhasa to Kathmandu or doing it vice versa from Kathmandu to Lhasa.
Mount Kailash sits out in remote western Tibet, most foreigners get Kailash as a pilgrim as it is considered the remotest and most sacred pilgrimage sites of Asia. Most of the pilgrims do Kora (Pilgrimage circuit) around Mount Kailas for 3 days from Darchen to Darchen. You should allow a day to relax at Lake Manasarovar or at Chiu Gompa. If you just want to visit Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, the most direct route is the southern road (870KM), a four day drive from Lhasa along the northern spine of the Himalayas. An ambitious but rewarding alternative is to travel out from the longer (1700KM) northern route to Ali and back along the southern route, a loop that will take almost three weeks. This route lets you visit Tagyel-tso, Pangong-tso, Rutok Monastery, Zanda and Tholing Monastery, Guge Kingdom ruins at Tsaparang. From Tholing, it’s a day drive to Mount Kailash, most of the group overnight at Tirthapuri en route, though.
There are Four Major things you will need to know about getting into Tibet
1. Permit: You will need a Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) permit to be able to enter Tibet by plane, train or bus by land. For this you will need to go through a travel agent and HimalayanWindows is always at your service to make your plan successful at a very reasonable budget.
2. Traveling from Mainland China: Traveling Tibet via Mainland China, you will need issue Chinese Tourist Visa earlier to process the permit; while sending your passport copy to the agent, you must send your China visa copy. The permit will be sent to your address in China (Not your home country) before you depart for Lhasa; you will be required to send a proper address in China before you fly to train to Lhasa.
3. Traveling from Kathmandu: Travel Tibet via Kathmandu, Nepal, Embassy of China in Kathmandu does not issue individual visa to any travelers going to Tibet. The Embassy issues Group Paper Visa only after receiving Invitation or Confirmation Letter from Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB). If you turned up with a Chinese visa already in your passport, it will be cancelled (Prefer traveling from Mainland China if you do not want to cancel your China visa in your passport). A group visa is separate sheet of paper with all the names and passport numbers of the group members. It is important to get your own individual group visa (a ‘group’ can as small as one person), as otherwise come the end of your tour in Lhasa, you will either have to exit China with your companion or split from the group visa with additional cost and hassle. Inform the travel agent about your plan after Lhasa while making a booking plan and allow at least 2-3 working days in Kathmandu for group visa procedure.
4. Gateways: You can enter Tibet either from Mainland China or Kathmandu by flight or land/road. Many visitors to Tibet will transit through Either Beijing/Chengdu or Kathmandu. Traveling from Mainland China, you can either take flight or train to Lhasa. Make sure that you are with your original permits before boarding on to Lhasa. The original permit is couriered by your travel agent at your address in China (Not at your home); it is important to send your exact address in China including phone number and room number of the hotel you stay.
Traveling in Tibet is not as difficult as you would think- at least once you have worked your way around the latest Tibet permit update and have acclimatized to the altitude. It is important to book a trip with a travel agent and the tour needs to be properly organized.
When to Go
Spring, early summer and late autumn are probably the best times to visit Tibet. March is politically sensitive month and every year in March, Tibet is remaining closed for years. April to May brings reliable weather in eastern Tibet including Mount Everest. From July through the end of September the monsoon starts to affect some parts of Tibet. Traveling western Tibet becomes slightly more difficult, the roads to the east are temporarily washed out and friendship highway (also called; Araniko highway) sometimes becomes impassable on the Nepal side or on the Kodari border itself. In 2017, organizing press meet by the Chinese authority, another border crossing (Kerung/Kyirong) has opened to the international travelers and can be used to enter Tibet. However, the road condition at Nepal side still yet to be improved.
Mount Kailash Mansarovar tour can be undertaken from April to October, although August, September and October are considered the best months. October is also best time to make a trip out to the east. Lhasa and its surroundings don’t get really cold until the end of November.
However, it’s worth trying to make your trip with one of the Tibet’s festivals. New Year (Losar) in January and February is an excellent time to be in Lhasa, Saga Dawa Festival (Full Moon) in April/May or Shoton Festival in August. Check Festivals in Tibet for more details to make your trip more fun.
Starting From
“Lhasa; the spiritual heart of Tibet, the remote adobe of the Dalai Lama and a city of wonders; the area around Lhasa offers an excellent range of monasteries built for centuries”
Lhasa, the holy city of Tibet lies at the elevation of 3650m and the capital of Tibet. For all its modernization Lhasa remains a fantastic cultural hybrid, its streets bustling with a diverse mix of people, as the gateway of ‘real’ Tibet, out in the countryside, Lhasa deserves at least a week to see the sights, though. For those with a short time limit, we can offer ‘3-Day Glimpse of Lhasa Tour’ – 2nights 3days Shortest Lhasa Itinerary, on which you visit the most popular and important sights inside Lhasa.
‘3-Day Glimpse of Lhasa Tour’ highlights include multi-day and overnight tours with sightseeing of the Potala Palace (UNESCO World Heritage site); a residence of the Dalai Lama, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Bazaar (Buddhists Pilgrimage Circuit), the huge monastic institutions of Drepung and Sera lies on the edge of the town. If time permits, you can visit both Sera and Drepung or just one of them.
Moreover, if you would like to extend your multi-day trip from ‘3-Day Glimpse of Lhasa Tour’ – 2nights 3days Shortest Lhasa Itinerary, we can add on Ganden Monastery, Namtso Lake, Tsedang. For this, you will need to extend a couple of extra days in Tibet. Make us an inquiry, we can help you customize or personalize your itinerary.
Upon your arrival in Lhasa; you will be greeted by your Tibetan guide and escorted to the hotel. A complete day rest for acclimatization- you can also walk around at nearby places on your own.
You can reach to Lhasa either taking flight from Kathmandu (1 hour flight) or taking train/flight from Mainland China (Mostly from Beijing or Chengdu). Overnight at Hotel
AM: After having breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and start your day sightseeing tour in Lhasa; start from Potala Palace (the residence of the Dalai Lamas), Jokhang temple and Barkhor Bazaar (Buddhists Pilgrimage circuit). Potala Palace; Lhasa cardinal landmark, one of the great wonders of world architecture. Potala is structure of massive proportions, an awe-inspiring place to visit, lies above the town of Lhasa; quite and stately, tremendous in its grandeur, rich reds and warm gold, devoted rural pilgrims, turning prayer wheels, the flickering light of Yak-butter candles; you can anticipate your journey with full of mystery and curiousness. Jokhang Temple also known as Tibetan as the Tsuglhakhang, is the most revered religious structure in Tibet. Thick with the smell of Yak butter, echoing with the murmur of mantras and bustling with awed pilgrims, the Jokhang is an unrivalled Tibetan experience. Barkhor Bazaar is the first stop for most newcomers to Lhasa is the Jokhang in the heart of the Tibetan old town. Before venture into Jokhang; it’s worth taking a stroll around Barkhor Bazaar, a Buddhists pilgrimage circuit.
PM: Visit of monastic institution of Drepung and Sera monasteries (If time permits visit both of the monasteries or at least one)
Drepung Monastery; about 8 kilometers west of central Lhasa established in 1530 by second Dalai Lama, used to be of the world’s largest monastery since king of Tsang and the Mongols. Sera Monastery is about 5 kilometers north of central Lhasa; founded in 1419 by Shakya Yeshe, was one of the Lhasa’s two great Gelupga monasteries, second only to Drepung. This monastery is worth visiting in the late afternoon when debating dance is usually held in the monastery’s debating courtyard.
After you conclude your one full day sightseeing tour in Lhasa your guide escorts you to your hotel in Lhasa. Overnight at hotel
Meet the guide at the hotel who will escort you to the airport or train station for your next destination.
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